How to Speed Up a Windows PC
Computers have changed our lives in almost every way, allowing us to accomplish tasks in a fraction of the time they once took and boosting efficiency and productivity. But computers can also cause huge frustration when they slow down and take ages to do what you’ve asked them to do. What cause computers to slow down and what can you do about it?
Why Computers Slow Down
Think of it like this. You need a piece of paper. If your desk is heaped high with papers and other clutter, it’s going to take a lot longer than if your desk is neatly organized. Computers are no different. The less junk, the easier it is for it to operate quickly and efficiently.
There are all sorts of things that contribute to a slow computer, including accumulated caches, fragmented files and desktops and hard drives that are drowning in clutter. Some of the causes of a slow computer are easy to resolve. Here are some things you can try to address the problem.
Basic Steps to Speed Up a Slow Computer
Give Your PC a Spring Cleaning
A common reason for a computer being slow is that it’s clogged up with old and unnecessary files (and maybe programs too). To start with, think about your desktop. Windows has to keep on loading and refreshing these icons, and it all takes up your machine’s resources. Not so obvious are the unnecessary programs that often run invisibly in the background, potentially using up even more of the finite resources of your PC. A good spring clean by an IT expert to remove computer clutter could go a long way to solving the problem of a slow computer.
Check for Malware
Malware can mess with your computer in lots of ways. Whatever they’re up to, they’re using your machine’s resources to do it. What malware does is lodge itself in the system memory of your PC. This can massively slow down your computer’s legitimate and essential programs because there simply aren’t the resources it needs available. Again, an experienced IT technician will be able to remove any invaders. Just eliminating malware or viruses alone can boost your computer’s speed.
Problems Caused by Hardware
It can be your hardware that’s the cause of your slow computer. It could be a built-in limitation, like insufficient RAM (Random Access Memory) to perform the tasks you’re doing. It could also be that a component of your hardware is malfunctioning, causing it to slow down.
An IT professional will have the tools to easily identify where the problem lies and resolve it. You may need to upgrade your RAM, or replace a component that’s failing. With older computers it’s sometimes not cost-effective to try to boost performance; older models often run slowly because they have issues with more modern software.
For issues with slow computers, and much more, Quikteks can help you! To find out more about our services, check out the rest of our website or give us a call at (973) 882-4644. Subscribe to our blog for more handy technology tips, and other useful information.